Lotto-Belisol’s André Greipel wins German road championships

Today Andre Greipel has become German national champion for the first time. The course in Wangen was very selective with two climbs in each lap. Lotto Belisol had two riders at the start. Marcel Sieberg and André Greipel started the race with a plan and it turned out very well. In a sprint of a group of 14 riders Greipel beat Gerald Ciolek and John Dgenkolb.

In the Belgian championship in La Roche-en-Ardenne Jurgen Van den Broeck is the first Lotto Belisol rider in the classification, he became 8th. Bart De Clercq was in the break for a long time together with three riders of Omega Pharma – Quickstep: 2012 champion Tom Boonen, Dries Devenyns and Pieter Serry. They got caught by a group of about thirty riders. Gaëtan Bille attacked with less than 30 km to go. Stijn Devolder reacted and got solo at the finish. It’s his third Belgian title.

André Greipel: “I am very happy with this title. In the beginning of the race the smaller teams controlled the race. In the last lap there was a split-up in the peloton on the first of two climbs. Together with Marcel Sieberg I got in front in a group of 18 riders. Marcel Kittel was in a group behind. Sibi attacked two kilometers from the end, but with 700 meters to go he got caught. I started sprinting at 250 meters and won.”

“Everything happened according to plan today, also the attack of Sieberg was planned. I am very proud of my first national title. I’ve always wanted this. This doesn’t change much for the Tour, because I was already motivated. But of course I’m very glad to wear this nice jersey.”

Jurgen Van den Broeck: “I was very motivated for this championship, although people suggested otherwise. I was part of the final. There were many attempts, but everyone was immediately in each other’s wheel. Unfortunately there was no cooperation in the chase. I definitely don’t have a bad feeling about this and am not unhappy. In the beginning of the race I didn’t feel that good and was riding at the back, but Frederik Willems took me to the front. I’ve only returned from training camp since last Friday and probably that played a role. Other years the Belgian national championship was never cut out for me, now I was in the front group for a long time, but the course was a bit too explosive for me.”